On the ten hectares of vines operated by Thomas Blard in the Marches (new commune of Porte-de-Savoie), a small plot of jacquère (25 ares) is the subject of special treatment. Located 400 meters above sea level, near Lake Saint-André, at a place called Lac Bros, the vines grow on a hillside of clay-limestone scree facing south-east. So far, nothing unusual. Otherwise that it was planted 60 years ago by Thomas’ grandfather. At “Lebraz”, as he said, the Jacquère has always given wines that are more lively and more mineral than elsewhere, without anyone really knowing why. Until the day when Benjamin, a young geologist in the process of settling down, hired as a seasonal worker in the vineyards, pointed out to Thomas that the ground was strewn with blue flint. Flint is the very hard stone found in the Loire Valley and which transmits its gunflint aromas to the great wines of Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire.
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Thomas then decides to vinify separately the Jacquère from the precious terroir to make an exceptional cuvée. “I only do it in good years (2014, 2016 and 2018). We must become aware of the value of our jacquères and not hesitate to keep them in the cellar. After eight or ten years, they still have some under the pedal”, maintains the winegrower. Left for 18 months on fine lees, the Lébraz 2018 cuvée was housed in a long-necked bottle imprisoning a luxurious natural cork stopper from the Lafitte factory.
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